I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Alice was very curious.

"Alice's level isn't high enough yet, and she hasn't completed her job change... But Alice, I'll do my best!"

Sensing the gaze from his 'junior,' Hoshino, who was resting, briefly looked back.

After realizing it was that strangely behaving 'little guy,' she stopped paying attention to the gaze directed at her.

"Alice will definitely work hard to level up, find clues about the 'Demon King,' and defeat him in the next operation!"

Watching Alice's energetic performance, Little Green sighed softly as the sun set.

Hey……

Not only did we witness the Phantom Thief's battle, but we also saw the awakening of his Persona...

The closer one gets to this magnificent and mysterious realm, the more one's curiosity is stirred.

By the time you realize it, you'll already be deeply involved...

The 'Personality Manipulators' have such a magnificent fighting style in another world... the more you watch, the more you want to participate yourself.

Unfortunately……

They only have access to the [Administrator Weapon], but they cannot truly activate those powerful Personas with names and corresponding legends.

This feeling is like watching a heroic party's adventure from the sidelines, but being unable to participate yourself...

For Xiao Lü, it was a very painful and disappointing experience.

In the silence, Amamiya also looked up to check the sky in the other world.

"It's about time, so today's adventure should come to an end."

"We'll have to wait until at least tomorrow for a response from the 'Beritas Heroes's Tavern'... Let's all retreat for now."

Using the teleportation magic released by Yuzu, they quickly returned to the evacuation point in the other world. Amamiya, along with Hoshino, Shirako, and the four members of the game club, chose to 'retreat'.

The black and red fluctuations began to distort, and then instantly restored the world completely.

For no apparent reason, everyone felt much lighter after leaving the 'other world'.

That feeling of 'unexplained malice and pressure' that seemed to be there all the time suddenly disappeared, accompanied by the dizziness of exiting the other world.

Facing the setting sun, Hoshino stretched rather lazily, lacking any 'senior' demeanor,' and then suddenly sighed in a sleepy, yawning tone, "Phew—finally over. Even though I didn't do much, I still feel so tired~~"

With a chuckle, she walked briskly to Amamiya's side, her left toe touching the ground, her hands behind her back. In the sunset, her figure suddenly revealed an excessive maturity and gentleness that seemed out of place in this body.

"We...we should have helped Sensei today, right?"

Amamiya nodded solemnly: "Of course."

【~???~】

"Hehe...that's good. Um, Sensei..."

She lowered her head slightly, scratched her cheek with the index finger of her left hand, and her shy eyes darted left and right.

"Remember what I said before... it will work anytime, anywhere!"

Those suggestive words immediately alerted Bai Zi.

The wolf's limp, droopy ears suddenly perked up, and Bai Zi, with a suspicious expression as if to say, "Senior, are you implying something?", carefully examined his seemingly "scheming" senior.

"……senior?"

"Haha...it's nothing."

With an awkward smile and a slight bow of his head, Hoshino touched the back of his head to hide his momentary panic before waving to the four members of the game club.

"Well... it's getting late. We've had a busy day, and we still have night patrols tonight... Sensei, and the younger members of the games department, we'll be going now~"

After saying that, Hoshino walked directly to the nearest monorail station of the Millennium Science Academy. It seemed that he was going to take the monorail to the station and then transfer to the high-speed rail to Abydos.

As for Shiroko... she parted ways with her 'senior' here.

After getting on his road bike, Bai Zi looked up and gazed at the sunset on the distant horizon, seemingly lost in thought for a moment.

Then, she waved to Amamiya and tightened her scarf.

"Goodbye, Sensei. Please contact me anytime if there are any follow-up actions. I... will help Sensei."

After saying that, Amamiya watched as the 'Grey Wolf Girl,' who seemed to be gradually regaining some energy, cheered herself up and rode her road bike toward the distant horizon where the sun was setting.

Judging from this... you're planning to cycle back by yourself.

He only just awakened his Persona during the day, and now he has to engage in such strenuous endurance activities... His endurance level is truly outstanding.

Alice suddenly stood on her tiptoes and waved goodbye to Shirako, who was riding away on her bicycle, and Hoshino, who was walking away.

Goodbye~~~!

Neither Shirako nor Hoshino paused in their cycling or leaving, only slowing down slightly. Then, with their backs to the four members of the game club, they waved goodbye.

For Alice, who is still learning about the world... isn't this a temporary farewell to like-minded companions during her 'adventure'?

Embark on an adventure to another world with your companions!

I defeated a monster that might be a maidservant of the Demon King turned into!

Then, he also talked to many 'NPCs' in the other world and learned a lot of conversation skills!

However, the short journey eventually came to an end... and the temporary companions finally said goodbye...

Alice's emotions were very sincere, and she waved her hand very forcefully.

But... witnessing his two 'temporary companions' board the tram and leave, and then disappear on their bicycles into the distance...

In her inner world, a wave of sadness and regret inevitably arose.

However, the only drawback is that there's still no clue as to how to become a "Phantom Thief of Hearts"...

"Alright, now... everyone should rest, right?"

After lingering on the four still enthusiastic members of the game club for a moment, Amamiya gave a slightly helpless reminder.

Alice, whose thoughts were still replaying in her mind as she sorted out her otherworldly adventure, immediately rejected Amamiya's "reminder."

"Alice has plenty of energy and doesn't need to rest!"

After saying that, she trotted over to Amamiya and, imitating Momoi, "Hey!" she hugged Amamiya around the waist with a "Hey!" amidst Amamiya's slightly helpless expression.

"Alice is using her special skill, [Cuteness], on Sensei... Please let Sensei act with Alice... and tell Alice the clues to become the 'Phantom Thief of Hearts'!"

I have to say... the feeling of being hugged and nuzzled by Alice was really... quite unique.

For some inexplicable reason, Amamiya had a feeling that she was 'raising a daughter'.

After hugging Alice, who was nuzzling and rubbing against him, Amamiya felt a sense of helplessness.

Amamiya had a 'promise' with the maids' club that night, so naturally he couldn't spend time with Alice.

Left with no other choice, he could only come up with an excuse to deal with Alice, who was still pestering him.

"Although Alice doesn't need rest... we are still a bit different from Alice. Our stamina has a limit... we've been completely depleted today and can't stay with Alice."

“Hmm.” Little Green chimed in, “Alice-chan, Sensei must be really tired today… Don’t let his lack of outward appearance fool you, he might be the most exhausted one. At this time, let’s not overburden Sensei…”

"Oh, is that so..."

Alice looked disappointed, but she also listened to advice and let go of Amamiya, returning to Yuzu's side.

"Although I'm very eager to know the clues to the 'Phantom Thief of Hearts' job change, but..."

"Alice... doesn't want to cause any trouble for Sensei."

Amamiya half-squatted down, cupped Alice's exquisitely textured 'artificial collagen' skin on her face, and rubbed her forehead against Alice's forehead under her clear gaze that 'didn't understand what he meant'.

"I don't have time to spend with Alice today..."

"However, there will be time later."

"Alice...will also awaken her 'persona' and become a true 'hero.'"

Rubbing one's forehead... is a very intimate gesture, symbolizing commitment or other emotional meaning.

Alice... seems to feel it... a very intense one...

'Emotions' are beyond description in words and beyond the comprehension of computer modules.

"To put Alice at ease..."

Amamiya smiled and extended her right hand, raising her little finger.

Let's pinky swear.

After a brief moment of 'stunned silence', Alice very actively and proactively extended her other hand, hooking her little finger with Amamiya's raised little finger.

"……Um!"

[...I sensed the emotions emanating from Alice.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Alice Tendo (Eternal Calamity) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

……

Downstairs in the game club's activity room, after parting ways with the four members of the game club, Amamiya did not rush back to Shirley.

He first went to the engineering department and handed over some of the 'spoils of war' he had obtained from the other world—metal fragments of various mythical armors—to the three 'master craftsmen' in the department.

After leaving the engineering department, realizing that it was almost time, Amamiya decisively opened the 'invitation' she had received during the day.

After confirming the landmark of the 'meeting location' attached to the invitation, Amamiya followed Sophia and Alona's dual navigation and found the place.

Ten minutes before Rion's supposed "meeting," Amamiya successfully arrived at the entrance of a coffee shop with signs that read "Temporarily Closed" and "Under Renovation," seemingly indicating that it had no intention of opening to outsiders.

"here it is……"

Amamiya was surprised after glancing up at the shop's sign.

"Maid...cafe...?"

Chapter Fifty-Eight: C&C's "Maids"

"Is this... a maid café?"

"Moreover, it's a coffee shop with an extremely unique design and structure, which looks like it has never been 'normally in operation'..."

After shifting his gaze from the sign above the building to the 'cafe interior' visible through the glass doors, Amamiya made a judgment based on his expertise in the café's operations.

—Although this is a so-called "maid café".

but……

Everything here, including the seats, the condition of the walls, etc...

Under the guidance of the "Third Eye," there was no trace of it having been used by anyone.

To put it bluntly, this is just for show.

That's interesting...

Amamiya remembered an anime she had seen before coming to Giwatos called "Lycoris," and in it...

To be honest, in terms of 'setting', there is some overlap with the students of Giwatos - those beings called 'Lycoris' are also a group of (mostly) girls, special agents specializing in the use of various ranged weapons.

The underage Lycoris would carry out various activities such as assassinations.

Once they reach adulthood, they are sent to other countries as overseas agents to conduct intelligence gathering and other similar activities...

(The infiltrators are included)

Will the purpose of this 'maid café' be similar to the kind of café Amamiya knows?

After using his "third eye" to confirm that there was no danger, Amamiya placed his hand on the doorknob of the cafe and tried to push the glass door.

'Jingle Bell--'

The crisp sound of wind chimes echoed throughout the café as Amamiya easily pushed open the door.

Immediately afterwards, Amamiya heard a voice that sounded energetic, lively, and tomboyish.

"Oh... have they arrived?"

Wow... Wow...